Valve adjusting device



June 14, 1938. R. w. MANNING 2,120,617

VALVE ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1956 Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in valve adjusting devices, the object of the invention being to provide a device which will perform a true adjusting function in an extremely efficient manner, which will be absolutely automatic in action, and which will always allow positive seating of a valve under all operating conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be positive in action, which will possess inherent means to automatically maintainthe structure in proper operating position, and which may be used with and easily assembled as an accessory upon a conventional valve mechanism, or as a built-in device on new assemblies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjusting device ofutmost simplicity and unusually lightweight which will automatically compensate for wear as it occurs. As shown inthe drawing, the device may be formed from a single piece of stock in such a manner that its cost of manufacture is thereby greatly reduced. While it will at once be obvious that the design of this invention is very flexible and various slight changes in construction and arrangement might be resorted to as long as the object of the invention is carried out, attention is here drawn to the fact that the device has been purposely planned and carefully designed to form an extremely simple self contained operating unit mountable upon a conventional valve mechanism. It will thus be seen that this invention differs from other so-called adjusting devices which are composed of two or more parts and which are not adaptable to, and may not be used with the standard conventional valve mechanisms now in use.

With these objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of one form of the invention. A simple one piece structure of cuneal formation is shown at I having an inclined ramp 2, a thin section of which is curled upward to form an integral tensioned tongue 3 which maintains the device in proper operating position. A standard, conventional rocker-arm and valve have been outlined to show the relative position of the adjusting device thereto, and since these standard, conventional parts are exactly similar to those now in common use, and are not a part of the invention, they are shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view ofa slight modification of the device shown in Fig. 1.. In this view, the structure is shown formed from a single piece of sheet steel or other suitable material. The inclined ramp 5'is pierced and the tongue 6 upturned to form integral tensioned means for holding the unit in proper operating position. The sheet material is bent down at i and under at l to form a firm support between the inclined portion 5 and the base Ill. The stops 8 and 9- may be optionally formed to limit extreme movement of the device when required.

Fig. '3 is a further modification of the invention shown in Fig. 2. This view shows a portion M on either side of the base l3 bent upward to form vertical walls which serve a dual purpose of reenforcing the bottom wall l3 while also acting as guides. The loop l l' acts as automatic tensioned means to maintain the structure in proper operating position.

Fig. l' is a side elevation showing the ramp l5 with a reenforcing inturned formation I5. This inturned formation serves to form a firm support between the ramp and the base of the structure to prevent undue flexing of the unit. In this View, the loop l1 acts as an automatic means to keep the unit in proper operating position, the fixed end of the loop being bent under to form additional reenforcement for the base of the structure as shown at is.

Adjusting a valve, as commonly understood by 9 those skilled in the art, is a process of creating a slight gap or clearance to insure proper seatingof the valve under all operating conditions.

Any device which at all times eliminates or takes up all play in the valve train is therefore not an adjusting device in the true sense of the word, and to be really efficient, a true adjusting device must create sufficient clearance during the operating cycle to prevent any possibility of the valvebeing held off its seat, particularly at very high speeds. In this connection, it will be seen that the unique construction and arrangement of this invention makes for extreme efliciency, inasmuch as the effective length of the valve train will be shortened both as the valve is opened and again as the valve closes. This dual shortening action, which doubles the efficiency of the device, is made possible by arranging the adjusting element so as to have a maximum freedom of movement. By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the adjusting element is neither hinged, pinned, journaled, or otherwise confined to the organization, but is free to advance or retract as conditions warrant in furtherance of its adjusting function, unrestricted by the course traversed by other members. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that a standard, conventional rocker-arm and valve have been outlined in broken lines. Altho these members are not a part of the invention, the showing of these parts will serve to more clearly indicate the action of the invention, which functions in an entirely automatic manner. The device does not yield to a direct thrust; hence the amount of clearance created will be practically uniform, and thus the timing of the valve mechanism will not be adversely affected thereby, which will contribute to the maximum smoothness, power and efficiency of the engine.

In action, as the rocker-arm (as indicated by the heavy broken lines) is actuated as in opening a valve (to the position shown by the lighter broken lines), the end of the rocker-arm follows the arc A-A. But the valve, when actuated, follows the path B-B. During these movements, a shearing action will take place between the contacting surfaces of the rocker-arm and adjusting unit. The magnitude of this shearing action is shown at C-C. During this movement, it is obvious that the end of the rocker-arm will slide down the inclined surface 2, since this is clearly the path of least resistance. The total effective length of the valve train will thus be somewhat shortened, and the opening of the valve somewhat reduced. Upon reverse movement of the operating members, the adjusting unit will assume the position shown at D, following the path of least resistance. This action will further shorten the effective length of the valve train. This dual shortening action, therefore, will create a definite clearance or gap to allow positive seating of the valve. As soon as the valve seats however, the tensioned tongue 3 will immediately and automatically advance the adjusting unit, thus taking up the clearance. It will thus be seen that should any of the parts expand during the operating cycle, the valve will not be held oiT its seat since ample clearance has been provided for expansion, and conversely, should any wear take place during the cycle, the

device will advance automatically and thus eliminate any clatter due to excessive play between the parts. In this manner, the invention will perform its adjusting function in an absolutely positive and automatic manner, and it must follow that the valve will be properly adjusted under all operating conditions. Moreover, the wear which would normally occur on the contacting surfaces of the rocker-arm and valve stem will be halved by the use of this device, since, as has been described, the adjusting element recedes alternately from the rocker-arm and valve stem, thus dividing in half the wear which would otherwise take place at these points. The amplitude of the shuttle movement imparted to the structure will be practically constant, hence the amount of clearance created on each successive cycle will be nearly uniform, thus preventing either too early or too late opening of the valve. The terms rocker-arm and valve stem are used in their broadest sense, since it is obvious that these terms might apply to a push-rod, tappet or the like. The action of the device as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 will be similar to thatdescribed above, whereas in Fig. 3 the action will be reversed, altho the result will be identical. Due to the extreme lightness and very low inertia of the structure, the device will not become paralyzed at high speeds, and the ability of the device to perform satisfactorily at these critical speeds is therefore greatly enhanced, and the resultant performance of the engine will be thereby improved by this device which is extremely simple, self-contained and efficient in use.

I claim:

In a valve mechanism, operating means comprising a rocker arm and valve stem, adjusting means mounted for shuttle movement between said rocker arm and valve stem, comprising a wedge-shaped unit having a flat base portion to oppose the valve stem, and a sloping ramp engaging the rocker arm, and spring means integral with said unit acting between said rocker arm and valve stem to advance said unit against said rocker arm and valve stem.

RODNEY W. MANNING. 

